Madison County court reporters face layoffs

EDWARDSVILLE – Court reporters in Madison County may have to take furloughs, and 10 of them could be laid off after April 16 if state government fails to find a solution to a budget shortfall.

Chief Criminal Judge Richard Tognarelli said the court reporters, who are particularly important to the Criminal Division, may have to start taking unpaid furlough on a rotating basis beginning April 1, if a solution is not found.

He said a reduction in hours or the layoffs starting April 16 could disrupt the court system, since court reporters are required in more than a dozen criminal proceedings. “We may have to layoff 10 court reporters,” he said.

Public defender John Rekowski said a reduction of court reporters, even under the furlough concept, would be “a disaster” that could lead to delays in proceedings, which, in turn, could lead to significant numbers of Madison County Jail defendants being released to allow more time to bring them to trial.

Under law, the state may confine a prisoner for only 120 days after his or her arrest. Releasing them without cash bond would allow an additional 30 days.

Court reporters could be allowed to work on a freelance basis when they are off from their regular jobs, and civil attorneys could pay them for the work, according to state officials.

Tognarelli said the furlough concept was chosen so that reporters may keep their benefits until April 16, when the layoffs would begin.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has said the state will run out of money to pay court reporters at the end of March, but he is looking for “a responsible solution to the problem.” A Rauner spokeswoman said the court reporter program is $14.3 million short for the budget year ending June 30.

Lake County Chief Judge John T. Phillips told the Arlington Heights Daily Herald that if the money isn’t found it will create “havoc” because the legal system depends on the reporters to take down what is said during court proceedings.